Pakistan on Wednesday expressed strong objection to the remarks of US Ambassador to India Sergio Gore in which he had described Jammu and Kashmir as an important part of India.
There has been an uproar in Pakistan over the statement of US Ambassador to India Sergio Gore. Burnt-out Pakistan expressed strong objection to Sergio Gore’s comment in which he had described Jammu and Kashmir as an ‘important part of India’. Pakistan summoned the US Diplomat Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad, termed Gore’s statement factually incorrect and strongly condemned it. In fact, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gore met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during his first official visit to Srinagar.
Jammu and Kashmir an important part of India
After the meeting both of them talked to journalists. During this, Gore clearly said that Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India. Appreciating the steps taken by the Central Government and the local administration to improve the security situation in the area, he said that the Government of India, the Chief Minister and the administration have made good efforts to keep the area safe and further strengthen the security.
Gore further said that the US is regularly reviewing its travel advisory for Jammu and Kashmir. He said the US reevaluates travel warnings from time to time. I can’t make any big announcements here today, but it is something we will consider. He also indicated that the possibility of lowering the current alert level is being assessed.
What did Pakistan say, irritated by the statement?
Hours after Gore’s statements, Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued an official statement terming his comments as ‘factually incorrect’ and completely rejecting them. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Pakistan said the Foreign Secretary summoned the US diplomat d’affaires in Islamabad and lodged a “strong objection” to Gore’s comments. Pakistan clearly stated that it strongly condemns and rejects the description of Jammu and Kashmir as “part of India”.
Describing Jammu and Kashmir as an ‘internationally recognized disputed territory’, Pakistan stressed that its final status remains to be decided in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Islamabad also criticized the timing and nature of Gore’s comments, saying they were not in line with America’s long-standing and well-established official position. According to Pakistan, the US Ambassador’s ‘irresponsible statement’ has contradicted America’s traditional stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The statement further alleged that these comments are contrary to the US’s commitment to international law and the UN Charter. Pakistan also mentioned US President Donald Trump’s proposal to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Jammu and Kashmir issue after Markar-e-Haq. Islamabad urged Washington to ensure that its public statements were consistent with the disputed situation in the region.
